Gre Basic 7

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perquisite

Back 1

perquisite

noun: a right reserved exclusively by a particular person or group (especially a hereditary or official right)

Even as the dishwasher at the French restaurant, Josh quickly learned that he had the perquisite of being able to eat terrific food for half the price diners would pay.

Front 2

debunke

Back 2

debunk

verb: expose as false ideas and claims, especially while ridiculing

Richard Dawkins tries to debunk religious belief, but his ridicule tends to push people away from his points rather than convince them.

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decimation

Back 3

noun: destroying or killing a large part of the population

The decimation after atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki is incomprehensible.

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vanquish

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vanquish

verb: come out better in a competition, race, or conflict

For years, Argentina would dominate in World Cup qualifying matches, only to be vanquished by one of the European countries during the late stages of the tournament.

Front 5

stymie

Back 5

stymie

verb: hinder or prevent the progress or accomplishment of

The engineers found their plans stymied at every turn and were ultimately able to make almost no progress on the project.

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creditable

Back 6

adjective: deserving of praise but not that amazing

Critics agreed the movie was creditable, but few gave it more than three out of five stars.

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resignation

Back 7

resignation

noun: the acceptance of something unpleasant that can't be avoided

Since Jack could not think of a convincing reason why he had to miss the seminar, he attended it with a sense of resignation.

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aphorism

Back 8

aphorism

noun: a short instructive saying about a general truth

Nietzsche was known for using aphorisms, sometimes encapsulating a complex philosophical thought in a mere sentence.

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amply

Back 9

excruciating

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excruciating

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hamper

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futile

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miscreant

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dilapidated

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Front 15

carping

Back 15

syn: nagging, niggling, grouse

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obliging

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syn: complaisant, solicitous

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relegate

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Front 18

colossal

Back 18

syn: gargantuan, gigantic

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paradox

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Front 20

convivial

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Front 21

discreet

Back 21

syn: tact

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champion

Back 22

syn: endorse, bolster, advocate, proponent, espouse, exponent, patronage

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compounded

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Front 24

cumbersome

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Front 25

besiege

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Front 26

qualm

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Front 27

vie

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Front 28

inkling

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Front 29

staid

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Front 30

balk

Back 30

balk

verb: refuse to comply

The students were willing to clean up the broken glass, but when the teacher asked them to mop the entire floor, they balked, citing reasons why they needed to leave.

Front 31

sordid

Back 31

sordid

adjective: involving ignoble actions and motives; arousing moral distaste and contempt; foul and run-down and repulsive

The nightly news simply announced that the senator had had an affair, but the tabloid published all the sordid details of the interaction.

Front 32

misogynistic

Back 32

misogynist

noun: a person who dislikes women in particular

Many have accused Hemingway of being a quiet misogynist, but recently unearthed letters argue against this belief.

Front 33

evasive

Back 33

adjective: avoiding or escaping from difficulty or danger or commitment

His responses were clearly evasive; he obviously did not want to take on any responsibility or any new work.

adjective: deliberately vague or ambiguous

Every time I call the bank, I receive the same evasive answers about our mortgage and never get a clear response.

Front 34

dispatch

Back 34

noun: the property of being prompt and efficient

She finished her thesis with dispatch, amazing her advisors who couldn't believe she had written 60 scholarly pages so quickly.

verb: dispose of rapidly and without delay and efficiently

As soon as the angry peasants stormed the castle, they caught the king and swiftly dispatched him.

Front 35

provisional

Back 35

provisional

adjective: under terms not final or fully worked out or agreed upon

Until the corporate office hands down a definitive decision on use of the extra offices, we will share their use in a provisional arrangement.

Front 36

deliberate

Back 36

verb: think about carefully; weigh the pros and cons of an issue

Emergency situations such as this call for immediate action and leave no room to deliberate over options.

Front 37

chivalrously

Back 37

chivalrous

adjective: being attentive to women like an ideal knight

Marco's chivalrous ways, like opening doors and pulling out chairs, was much appreciated by his date.

Front 38

snub

Back 38

verb: refuse to acknowledge; reject outright and bluntly

Wheeler was completely qualified for the committee, but the board snubbed him, choosing an obviously lesser qualified candidate instead.

Front 39

morph

Back 39

morph

verb: To undergo dramatic change in a seamless and barely noticeable fashion.

The earnestness of the daytime talk shows of the 1970's has morphed into something far more sensational and vulgar: today guests actually standup and threaten to take swings at one another.

Front 40

constraints

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constraint

noun: something that limits or restricts

We don't have many resources, so we'll have to work with some very tight constraints.

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complementary

Back 41

adjective: enhancing each other's qualities (for two things or more).

The head waiter was careful to tell the amateur diners that red wine was complementary with beef, each bringing out subtle taste notes in the other.

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enumerated

Back 42

enumerate

verb: determine the number or amount of

The survey enumerates the number of happy workers and the number of unhappy workers.

verb: specify individually, one by one

I sat and listened as she enumerated all of the things she did not like about the past three months.

Front 43

malodorous

Back 43

malodorous

adjective: having an unpleasant smell

Some thermally active fountains spew sulfur fumes--the air around them is sometimes so malodorous that many have to plug their noses.

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laborious

Back 44

laborious

adjective: characterized by effort to the point of exhaustion; especially physical effort

The most laborious job I've had was working 20 hours a day as a fisherman in King Salmon, Alaska.
syn: industrious

Front 45

boorish

Back 45

adjective: ill-mannered and coarse or contemptible in behavior or appearance

Bukowski was known for being a boorish drunk and alienating close friends and family.

Front 46

antiquated

Back 46

antiquated

adjective: old-fashioned; belonging to an earlier period in time

Aunt Betty had antiquated notions about marriage, believing that a man should court a woman for at least a year before receiving a kiss.

Front 47

inarticulate

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narticulate

adjective: without or deprived of the use of speech or words

Although a brilliant economist, Professor Black was completely inarticulate, a terrible lecturer.

Front 48

cosmopolitan

Back 48

cosmopolitan

adjective: comprising many cultures; global in reach and outlook

There are few cities in the world as diverse and cosmopolitan as New York.